Cruel Intentions: NBC Pilot Cast Options Extended

by Cindy McLennan, July 1, 2016

(Joe Seer/Shutterstock.com.)

The Cruel Intentions TV show pilot is still alive at NBC. Pilot options on the whole cast have been extended. Variety reports the network remains interested, but, “…sources say that Sony Television (the studio behind “Cruel Intentions”), has garnered interest from cable and streaming outlets, including Hulu, Freeform and more.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar is reprising her 1999 film role, Kathryn Merteuil, in the sequel series. Kate Levering has taken on the Annette Hargrove character (Reese Witherspoon in the movie). The Cruel Intentions TV series pilot cast also includes Peter Gallagher, Taylor John Smith, Nathalie Kelley, Coby Bell, Anne Winters, Duane Henry, and Samantha Logan.

Last month, we reported Roger Kumble, creator of the Cruel Intentions TV adaptation (who directed the feature) said NBC and Sony were still in talks.

The Variety report adds:

Insiders maintain that NBC is still looking at “Cruel Intentions,” perhaps for a summer 2017 debut, but the network has not settled on a sensible spot for the younger-skewing, sexy show, since it’s unlike anything else on The Peacock’s slate.

Back in May during the week of Upfronts, NBC boss Bob Greenblatt told reporters: “We’re still discussing it…It falls under the heading of embarrassment of riches. It’s a bit of an outlier for us. There’s no other show like it [on our schedule]. We like it, we’re still discussing it and we’re trying to figure it out.”

The pilot is a sequel to 1999 feature, which also starred Ryan Phillippe as Sebastian Valmont. Fifteen years later young Bash Casey (Taylor John Smith) finds his late father Sebastian’s journal. From it, he is introduced to a corrupt world of greed, power, money, and sex.

What do you think? Have you watched the original Cruel Intentions movie? If NBC passes on the pilot, what network or service should order the Cruel Intentions TV series?